The Chinese government’s paranoia is really reaching comic levels.

Just two days before the Olympic torch relay here, a paranoid Chinese delegation told the Indian authorities that it fears guerrilla-style assaults by militant Tibetans and sought foolproof security for the event.

A high-level Chinese team led by former ambassador Sun Yuxi, who has been specially sent to India by a nervous Beijing, met Delhi government officials on Tuesday to discuss security for Thursday’s torch relay ceremony.

“They are so fear stricken that all types of baseless apprehensions are doing the rounds in their minds. They fear that Tibetans may attack the torch relay from hot air balloons. They asked if Tibetans can open fire from rooftops too,” a senior government official told IANS.

“We assured the delegation that nothing untoward is going to happen Thursday and the entire ceremony will conclude smoothly. Elaborate security arrangements have been made,” said the official who did wish to be identified.

“We told them that since India is a democracy, demonstrations are a routine affair,” the official said. “Nothing, however, is allowed beyond Jantar Mantar,” in the heart of the capital. [Emphasis added]

China threw a party in Athens, London, Paris, San Francisco, and Buenos Aires and no one liked it. Now they’re scared their party in India is going to be the worst thing imaginable. Hot air balloons?